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Predicting/Managing Violence in Crisis Situations: Ensuring Service Provider Safety

Dr. Dan Jensen John Absher

Educational Resources Lakeview Living Center

Kankakee, Illinois Chicago, Illinois

Most experts would agree that violence is not random nor does it occur without warning, but instead; violence is predictable, following several escalating steps. Victims of violence are hurt psychologically as well as physically. Thus, it is essential to have a "crisis plan" -- not only to help service providers deal with actual violence, but to identify the potential for violence, and to defuse that potential before it erupts.

In 1996, over 10,000,000 Americans were victims of violent crime, including approximately 485,000 rapes or sexual assaults, 1,300,000 robberies, and 9,000,000 assaults. In the American culture, aggression has become a form of expression. As much as 30 percent of the population has replaced other forms of communication with aggression or other forms of violence.

Service providers today must be aware that, no matter the personal characteristics of the service provider, or how caring the provider may be, the occurrence of violent behavior is highly probable. We are providing services to more and more violent people these days. Service providers must realize that whenever a client perceives danger, any person may be viewed as a threat. Even the service provider who has been considered a "friend" is at risk if the client is feeling threatened.

Today's human service provider will encounter violent individuals and need safe, effective solutions or strategies which reduces the potential for violence to occur. The service provider will be prepared to resolve potentially assaultive or crisis/violence situations in a manner which helps ensure that we maintain the care and welfare of all involved in the intervention process.

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